Peters



(No Model.)

G. 0. LANE.

PROTECTING AND .PRESERVING PILES.

Patented May 29, 1888'.

OH ARLES 0. LANE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H.BOALT, OF SAME PLACE.

PROTECTING AND PRESERVING PILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,736, dated May 29,1888.

Application filed September 14, 1887. Serial No. 249,715. (No model) TaZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES 0. LANE, of the city and county of SanFrancisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement inProtecting and Preserving Piles; and I hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in the art ofprotecting and pre- [0 serving piles from the ravages of marine insects,especially the teredo, and from decay; and my invention consists insplitting the pile substantially in the direction of its length andthroughout that portion of it which is exposed to attack, leaving theremaining or top portion, where strength is required, unsplit, and intreating the split portion of said pile with a suitable protective orantiseptic compound, whereby said compound, entering the splits or cutsof the pile, fills them up and permeates its substance, all of which,together with details, I shall hereinafter fully describe.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my inven- 2 tion, Figure lis a perspective view of a pile preparedand treated in the manner described. Fig. 2 is a view of a pile havingits splits or cuts arranged in a modified position. Fig. 3 is across-section on line X X, Fig. 1.

A is a pile, having made in it from its point upwardly and substantiallyin the direction of its length, for a distance which includes theportion of the pile exposed to decay and the attack of insects, theslits a. These slits are 5 made by splitting the pile by saws or othersuitable machinery. The upper portion or top a of the pile is leftunsplit, because the greatest amount of strength is needed there. Thesplit or slit-ted portion can be properly seasoned, and is then immersedin coahtar, as-

phaltum, or other materials or compounds of a protecting or antisepticnature, after which the split portion of the pile may be spiked orpinned together, as shown at B, and the point 5 of the pile may beprotected by a metal socket or strip, 0.

In Fig. 2 I show the split portion of the pile about the center, whercthe pile is exposed in the water, and in such case no spikes 5o need beused.

The top of the pile is not weakened, as it remains in its natural shape,which is an advantage, because it is that part of the pile which has tostand the greatest force of the blows in driving it. I

In thus splitting the pile it is obvious that that part of it which isliable to be attacked by the teredo is placed in a proper condition tobe seasoned naturally or by the use of hot water.

In practice the pile will be split into thin portions-say one inch, moreor lessand this will allow the needed preservative compound to penetrateto all parts of the pile where exposed to attack, and no portion of saidcom pound is wasted on that part of the pile which is not exposed. Bythus minutely splitting up, the pile there is left no space in which theteredo can work, beause between each solid portion of the pile is a slitwhich is filled with the protective or preservative compound, which theteredo will not cross, and therefore it can work only in the solidportion, whichis reduced to such a thinness as to make it impracticablefor it to carry on its operations; nor can it come to maturity or evenlive in the narrow substance between the slits.

I am aware that piles have been immersed in preservative compounds ofvarious natures, in order to allow the material to permeate through thepores of the wood. I also know that a central hole has been made in thepile and a preservative compound poured into it, and also that anannular socket or opening has been made near the outer circumference ofa pile, thus dividing it into an outer thin shell and an inner solidcore, a preservative compound being poured into the annular opening. Ido not, therefore, claim merely the treating ofa pile with an antisepticcompound; nor do I claim, broadly, the making of holes or sockets,cavities, or chambers in a pile for the purpose of introducing thepreservative compound; but I \Vhat I do claim as new, and desire tosecure 5 by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of protecting and preserving piles, which consists insplitting the pile in that portion of it which is exposed to attack, andin then treating the split portion with a protective or antisepticcompound, whereby the slits are filled with it and the substance of thewood permeated, substantially as herein described.

2. The method of preserving piles, which consists in splitting, insubstantially the direction of its length, that portion of the pilewhich is exposed to attack, leaving the upper or top portion of the pileunsplit, and in treating the split portion with a protective orantiseptic compound, whereby its slits are filled and its substancepermeated, substantially as herein described.

3. The method of preserving piles, which consists in splitting, insubstantially the direction of its length, that portion of the pile Uwhich is exposed to attack, leaving the top portion unsplit, in thentreating the split portion with a protective or antiseptic compound,whereby its slits are filled and its substance permeated, and in thenspiking or pinning the split portion together, substantially as hereindescribed.

4:. The pile provided in the direction of its length with a number ofslits extending throughout that portion which is exposed to attack, saidpile having its top or upper porti on unsplit, substantially as hereindescribed.

5. A pile having a solid or unsplit upper portion, and its lowerportion, which is exposed to attaclgslitted or split,and its splitportion spiked or pinned transversely, the slits of said portion beingfilled with a protective or antiseptic compound, substantially as hereindescribed.

6. A pile having its lower portion split, its upper portion unsplit, anda metal cap for covering its point, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' CHARLES 0. LANE.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, H. 0. LEE.

